Release Detail

March 2, 2006 - Keep Government Snooping, But Get A Warrant, American
Voters Tell Quinnipiac University U.S. Poll;
Bush Fades In Purple - Or Swing - States

By a 76 - 19 percent margin, American voters say the government should continue monitoring
phone calls or e-mail between suspected terrorists in other countries and people in the U.S.,
according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. But voters say 55 - 42 percent
that the government should get court orders for this surveillance.

Voters in "purple states," 12 states in which there was a popular vote margin of 5
percentage points or less in the 2004 Presidential election, plus Missouri, considered the most
accurate barometer of Presidential voting, want wiretap warrants 57 - 39 percent.

Red states, where President George W. Bush's margin was more than 5 percent in 2004,
disagree 51 - 46 percent with the President that the government does not need warrants. Blue
state voters who backed John Kerry by more than 5 percent want warrants 57 - 40 percent, the
independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

A total of 57 percent of voters are "extremely" or "quite" worried that phone and
e-mail taps without warrants could be misused to violate people's privacy. But 54 percent believe
these taps have prevented some acts of terror.

"Don't turn off the wiretaps, most Americans say, but the White House ought to tell a judge
first. Even red state voters, who backed President Bush in 2004, want to see a court okay for
wiretaps," said Maurice Carroll, Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Forget the rights and wrongs. Who'll win the political battle, the President or his
Congressional critics? A color-coded majority - in red, blue and purple states - picks the
President 56 - 33 percent," Carroll added.
President Bush's Approval

Only 36 percent of voters approve of the job President Bush is doing, while 58 percent
disapprove, his worst approval rating in a Quinnipiac University national poll and down 9 points
from his 45 - 48 percent approval rating one year ago. Purple state voters give Bush a negative
31 - 63 percent approval, and blue state voters go negative 34 - 61 percent. Even red state voters
are negative 42 - 51 percent.

Voters disapprove 52 - 42 percent, 57 - 39 percent in purple states, of the way Bush is
handling terrorism, his lowest score on this issue.

By a 49 - 37 percent margin, voters want the Democrats to win control of Congress in this
year's House and Senate elections. And if a candidate for Congress supports President Bush, only
16 percent of Americans are more likely to vote for that candidate, with 37 percent less likely and
45 percent who say it won't make a difference.

In an open-ended question, where respondents can give any answer, 23 percent of voters
say the war in Iraq is the most important problem facing the U.S. today, followed by 13 percent
who list economic issues and 11 percent who list terrorism or safety.

Only 38 percent of voters are "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with the way things
are going in the U.S., with 61 percent who are "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied," the
lowest satisfaction rate in a Quinnipiac University national poll.

"President Bush has lost the middle, the purple states, at least for now. He gets low marks
on handling the situation in Iraq and his best score on handling terrorism is only a split in the red
states," Carroll said. .

From February 21 - 28, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,892 registered voters
nationwide. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida and nationwide as
a public service and for research.

For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as

TREND: If a candidate for Congress supports President George W. Bush, does that
make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely to vote for that
candidate, or doesn't it make a difference?

Mar 2 Dec 6
2006 2005

More likely 16 16
Less likely 37 37
No difference 45 45
DK/NA 1 2

45. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling terrorism?

48. President Bush says the government can use wiretaps to listen to telephone
calls and read e-mails between suspected terrorists in other countries and some
people in the United States without a court order. Others say such wiretaps
require a court order. Which comes closer to your view?

49. To combat terrorism, do you think the government should or should not use
wiretaps to listen to telephone calls and read e-mails between suspected
terrorists in other countries and some people in the United States?

50. How concerned are you that the Bush administration's use of these kinds of
wiretaps without a court order could be misused to violate people's privacy:
extremely concerned, quite concerned, not really concerned, or not concerned at
all?

RED: Bush won by more than 5 percentage points in the 2004 Presidential election

BLUE: Kerry won by more than 5 percentage points in the 2004 Presidential election

PURPLE: There are 13 purple states -- 12 in which there was a margin of five
points or less in the 2004 popular vote between Bush and Kerry, plus
Missouri, historically considered the nation's most accurate barometer
of presidential voting. These states have 153 of the 270 electoral votes
needed to capture the presidency.